Missile barrages ahead of the holiday left a girl in critical condition and a teenage boy seriously injured after a cluster missile struck Bnei Brak on Wednesday morning, as Iran launched repeated attacks across Israel.
Magen David Adom said 14 people were wounded in the strike. An 11-year-old girl was critically injured by glass from a shattered window while in bed, and a 12-year-old boy was seriously hurt. Two others were in moderate condition, while the rest sustained light injuries.
Forces at the scene in Bnei Brak
Impact site in Tel Aviv
The missile, which dispersed into multiple fragments, hit several locations in central Israel. Significant damage was reported in Bnei Brak, while another impact site in Tel Aviv caused destruction. Additional reports indicated a strike in Petah Tikva, though no injuries were immediately confirmed there.
The attacks were part of sustained launches from Iran toward central, northern and southern Israel ahead of the holiday eve. Air raid sirens sounded across densely populated areas, including Tel Aviv, the coastal plain, the Sharon and parts of the West Bank.
Air defense systems intercepted multiple missiles fired toward central Israel, the military said, though some projectiles impacted the ground. The IDF said it identified launches from Iran in advance, triggering early warning alerts.
Separately, a missile fired by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen toward southern Israel was intercepted without causing casualties. The Houthis said the launch was coordinated with Iran and Hezbollah and targeted “sensitive” sites.
In the north, alerts were also triggered over suspected drone infiltrations from Lebanon, including in communities near the border. One unmanned aerial vehicle was intercepted, and no injuries were reported. The IDF said an Israeli Air Force drone was downed over Lebanon.
The military also reported that Israeli forces began a targeted ground operation in southern Lebanon, aimed at expanding the security zone along the border. It said troops killed dozens of Hezbollah terrorists and destroyed infrastructure, including observation posts and weapons depots.
Earlier, the IDF said it had conducted a broad wave of strikes on Iranian regime targets in Tehran, as well as additional strikes in Beirut, amid escalating regional tensions.
Beyond Israel, Qatar said Iran fired three cruise missiles toward its territory. Two were intercepted, while a third struck an oil tanker operating in Qatari territorial waters. No casualties were reported.
First published: 07:25, 04.01.26